Fusilli with meatballs

 

     Our sauce is flecked with olives and raisins, and our spicier-than-usual meatballs are extended with wheat germ rather than bread crumbs. For a leaner version, make the meatballs with ground turkey.

Makes 6 servings

Sauce

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 2 jars/7 ounces each roasted red pepper, drained
• One-third cup red wine or chicken broth or water
• 1 can/28 ounces tomatoes, in puree
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• ¾ cup sliced, pitted, ripe black olives
• One-third cup golden raisins
• Pinch of ground hot red pepper
• 2 tablespoons butter

Meatballs and pasta

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 tablespoons milk
• One-third cup wheat germ
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon ground sage
• ½ teaspoon leaf thyme, crumbled
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• Salt and pepper
• 1 pound fusilli
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Prepare sauce

1. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat ; stir in onion and sauté until browned, about 12 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, empty one of the drained jars of peppers into blendor or food processor.
3. With motor running, gradually add wine and whirl until smooth puree ; diced remaining jar of peppers.
4. Add pureed and diced peppers, tomatoes, tomato paste, olives, raisins and ground red pepper to onion ; stir with a wooden spoon to combine and break up tomatoes.
5. Cover and simmer 30 minutes ; stir in butter and keep warm.

Prepare meatballs and pasta

1. Preheat oven to 400F ; cover 15½ x 10½ x 1-inch jelly-roll pan with aluminium foil and spray with nonstick vegetable-oil cooking spray.
2. Combine beef, garlic, Parmesan cheese, milk, wheat germ, egg, sage, thyme, cumin, salt and pepper in medium-size bowl ; form beef mixture into about 48 1-inch balls and place in single layer on prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes or until cooked through.
4. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions ; drain.
5. Toss together sauce, meatballs and pasta in large serving bowl ; sprinkle with parsley.

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